Private public partnership for rail transport development in nigeria (femi obiomah)
Rail transport was historically important for Nigeria's economy by facilitating the transportation of agricultural goods and fuel. However, increased oil production and wealth led the government and people to prefer road and air transport over rail. This negatively impacted agriculture as local foods could no longer be efficiently transported within the country. Reviving rail transport is now seen as key to boosting the agricultural industry and economic revival by providing a lower-cost transportation option, especially as road transport has become more expensive and unreliable. Potential challenges include political opposition from those who see rail as exposing their lands, as well as from road transport fleet owners who could sabotage rail projects unless incentivized to invest. Significant funding will also be needed given infrastructure requirements.
Private public partnership for rail transport development in nigeria (femi obiomah)
- 1. Private Public Partnership for Rail Transport Development in Nigeria Rail transportis the mosteffective wayof movingpeople andgoodsinanycountry. Priorto its emergence asatop oil producingnation,Nigeriawasatop exporterof mostof the agricultural goodsinAfrica.The rail transport boostedthe agric.Industryas farmers were able to gettheirproductsto marketsbothfor local consumptionandforexport.Whenwe became anoil producingnationrail transportfacilitatedmovementof the fuelstootherpartsof the country. The adventof petroleumproductionmade the importance of agriculture lookinsignificanttoour economythoughsuchperceptionswere false. The boost inour economymade governmentandthe people richerthentopreferredroadandair transportto rail transport.This made the rail industryexperiencemindlessregret.Mindlessbecause we startedimportingfoodthatwe usedto grow.It neveroccurredto usthat transport wasa major factor whywe couldnot getthose foodsforotherparts of the country.It neverbotheredmanywhy local rice was costlierthanimportedrice. Withthe economicdownturn,manyare returningtoagriculture asa meansof livelihood.Toboost the agric revolution,transportationcostsmustbe takenintoconsideration. The frequentvandalisingof oil pipelinesmake mostof the petroleumproductstobe transportedby road. Thishas affectedaffordability andqualityof fuels. Rail transportis a major keytothe countryseconomicrevival. Problems andpossible solutions. 1. Political:lotsof the elite seethe rail transportasa meansof easyaccessfor people of other tribestotheirlandand expose false impressionshitherto.We canpromote the use of rail transportas meansof cost savingsinmovingtheiragricultural produce. 2. Most fleetownersof roadtransportvehiclescanbe encouragedtoinvestinthe rail project withfavourable financial instrumentsthatwouldhelppreventtheiroppositionand(behind the scenes) sabotage. 3. Funding:Mostof the terrainwhere rail transportismost neededisroughandmarshy.It therefore wouldbe capital intensivetodevelop.Investmentrewardsinotherattractive sectorscouldbe usedare incentivestoattract majorfinancial investors